Gravesham

Gravesham's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Gravesham increased by 6.3%, from just over 95,700 to 102,000.

The addition of just over 6,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Gravesham was home to, on average, 7.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Gravesham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Gravesham increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This suburban area had a slightly lower average age than the South East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 15% of people in Gravesham are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Gravesham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Gravesham saw the South East's third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (49%) people aged 16 and over in Gravesham said they were married, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26% to 32%.

Across the region, only Hastings (from 46% to 40%) and Medway (from 52% to 46%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Gravesham, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.8% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (35%) households had a married couple, compared with 40% in 2001. The percentage of households in Gravesham, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Gravesham increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Gravesham, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Gravesham

The percentage of Gravesham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.6% in 2001. The percentage of Gravesham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Gravesham increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Gravesham, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Gravesham

The number of people in Gravesham that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 12,000 in 2001 to about 22,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 21% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Gravesham that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 69,000 in 2001 to just under 62,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 61%). The number of people who described themselves as Sikh increased from just under 6,400 to about 7,700 (from 6.7% to 7.6%).

About 6,400 people (7.0%) did not state their religion, down from just over 6,700 in 2001 (6.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Gravesham increased by 9.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Gravesham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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